Slanted Flying

Category: Chen Style

  • Master Chen Yingjun

    Master Chen Yingjun

    The article “Master Chen Yingjun” is reprinted on Slanted Flying website with the permission of the author Sam Langley from his personal Blog.

    Maybe it was when the floorboards shattered that I realised I was in the presence of a warrior. Taijiquan is a battlefield martial art and its original purpose was war. It’s founder Chen Wangting was a general in the army and watching his descendant as his stamp splinters the ground, Master Chen Yingjun looks ready for battle.

    Every year that my teacher, Mark Leonard, hosts Chen Yingjun he appears twice as powerful, fast and graceful as the previous year. It also seems that his teaching is becoming clearer and more concise. Teaching westerners Tai Chi must be very different to teaching the locals of Chen village. If you grow up in the birthplace of Taijiquan, practicing from a very young age it probably takes some doing to work out how to transmit this very elusive art to people in their 30’s or 40’s who may not be very fit or aware of their bodies.

    After his father, Chen Xiaowang, Chen Yingjun’s mission seems to be to spread the correct teaching of the principles of Tai Chi around the world. His corrections are powerful, direct and may involve the odd whack as he gets you to soften.

    I always get the impression that Master Chen is very humble. He’s dressed simply in tracksuit bottoms and red top. We all eat lunch together and he’s very laid back and amiable. You won’t find much of him on youtube at the moment and I’m not sure he’s very keen to be filmed. Personally, I’d love it if there was footage of him doing the Laojia as after following him my Tai Chi feels much much better.

    P.S Next beginners course starts January 10th! more info

  • Taijiquan And Its Evolution

    Taijiquan And Its Evolution

    shen-jia-zhen
    Shen Jia Zhen

    Shen Jia Zhen’s book on the Chen family’s Taijiquan written in Chinese, is the source of the Chen first and second routines illustrated in the “Dao Of Taijiquan” by Jou Tsung Hwa.

    At the end of the commentary on the movements (44-45 in the “Dao Of Taijiquan”), Shen Jia Zhen says “this move was created by master Chen Fa Kur in his old age.” He also says in the commentary on movements 18-22 in the 2nd routine Pao Chui or Cannon Fist, “the introduction of this move is actually credited to Chen Fa Our who, in order to popularize Chen style Taiji, added on the “High Pat On Horse” and “Wave Hands In Clouds” within the sequence.”

    Hao Shao Ru’s father took out the jump kick from the Wu’s Taijiquan, and the Yang’s Taijiquan went through changes as well. In a book on old Wu style Taijiquan, there is actually a form called Pao Chui translated as Cannon Fist. It is energetic and attributed to Wu Yu Hsiang.

    It is therefore fitting that the Chen family’s Xiao Jia or “small frame” form should evolve as well. Chen Zi Ming had a book published around 1930 on small frame Chen’s Taiji with fixed isolated postures which are in several Chinese bookstores, but we are in 2016.

    Zhi Ru Lei’s book on the same subject as Chen Xin’s student Chen Zi Ming, and although written in Chinese like Chen Zi Ming’s book, has more of an instructional leaning.

    The drawings of the 64 posture form (1st routine), in Zhi Ru Lei’s book are shown with arrows, and 4 postures of Chen Jinao (1899-1971) are also included.

    alan-sims
    Alan Sims

    Chen Jinao was a student of Chen Yao and also his grandson. He also studied under Chen Xin, whose book is well known in Taiji circles. Chen Yao is the brother that Chen Xin refers to in his book when mentioning his brother with excellent Taiji skills.

    Also shown and discussed in the book are Chen Boxing and his teacher Chen Kezhong as well as past lineage practitioners.

    I would like to give special mention to Jay Dunbar, an original student of Jou Tsung Hwa, and an editor of the Taiji newsletter. Ralph Rodriguez and Pai Diaz are two very good martial from the Taiji Farm. Charles Wang was responsible for the translations from Shen Jia Zhen’s book, along with all of the wonderful students of Jou Tsung Hwa.

  • Lou Reed and Tai Chi

    Lou Reed and Tai Chi

    The late Lou Reed was mostly known as musician, however, one of his passions in life was practicing Tai Chi Chuan. Lou Reed was famous as the principal songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist for the band The Velvet Underground and later for wonderful work in his solo musical career.

    Lou Reed started his journey in Tai Chi during the 1980’s. He first studied Eagle Claw Kung Fu with master Leung Shum. He was introduced to the Wu style of Tai Chi Chuan at this school, and studied it for 15 years. Later, Lou Reed met Ren Guangyi, and began learning the Traditional Chen style of Tai Chi Chuan with him for more than 10 years.

    Lou Reed was very active in promoting the art of Tai Chi Chuan, whether it was featuring his teacher, Ren Guangyi, performing Tai Chi on stage during a concert, or assisting in teaching the art to fellow enthusiasts.

    Below are two amazing videos featuring Lou Reed and the Chen style of Tai Chi Chuan.

    Watch “Lou Reed – The Voice and The Practice”

    And this, “Art of the Straight Line”

    Unfortunately, Lou Reed passed away in October of 2013.  It was a great loss for the both the world of music and Tai Chi Chuan. He will truly be remembered for his great contributions to both arts.

  • Chen Qingzhou Passes Away At 82 Years Old

    Chen Qingzhou Passes Away At 82 Years Old

    Master Chen Qingzhou (1934 – 2015) passed away on September 21, 2015. He was a 19th-generation lineage holder of Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan. At the age of nine, he started learning the Chen family art from his father Chen Wufang. It was the Chen Family Old Frame that he was first trained in. Later, when he was 19 years old, Chen Qingzhou was sent to 18th-generation master Chen Zhaopi to further his studies.

    Below is a video of Chen Qingzhou performing the Chen Family style of Tai Chi Chuan.

    Chen Qingzhou taught the Chen style of Tai Chi Chuan all over China as well as many places around the world. He was well respected in the global Tai Chi community and his teaching and guidance will truly be missed.

  • A Chinese Tai Chi Village

    A Chinese Tai Chi Village

    The Chen Village is known as the birthplace of Tai Chi Chuan. It is the center of the Chen family style of Tai Chi Chuan. Located deep whthin the Henan Province if China, Chen Village (Chenjiagou), it has a population of approximately 2500, of which it is said that 95% practice Tai Chi.

    It is host to many foreign Tai Chi students each year who travel from across the world to learn this art form in its home. There are several Tai Chi schools located in Chen Village. Chen Xiao Xing and his son Chen Zi Qiang,  Chen Zhao Sen, and Chen Bing all have their own schools located in Chen Village.

    Please enjoy this beautifully filmed video of the Chen Village by Alexey Gladkov.

    Chinese tai-chi village from Alexey Gladkov on Vimeo.

    While Chen Village cannot boast of beautiful scenery and countryside, it is a place of great interest. and has become a destination spot, a pilgrimage if you will for the Tai Chi tourist. You can visit the old house of Yang Lu Chan, the founder of the Yang style of Tai Chi Chuan who had learned Tai Chi from the Chen family, or go to the” Monument to the Chen Family Ancestors”. But mostly they come to train Chen Family Tai Chi Chuan.

    If you wish to learn more about the Chen Village, please visit the The China Tai Chi Guide website!

  • Art Of Tai Chi Sailing

    Art Of Tai Chi Sailing

    Here is a wonderful video by the film company 2digif called “The Art Of Tai Chi Sailing” featuring Chen Tai Chi Chuan practitioner Piotr Walczak. It was filmed in Poznan, Poland on the the grounds of the 19th century Fort Winiary, also known as the Citadel. Piotr Walczak sails through his movements using a 28 pound (12 kg) Halbred (Kwan Dao), a traditional weapon of the Chen style of Tai Chi Chuan.

    [quote]“Initially, we wanted to show the art of Tai Chi closer to nature. However, because of problems with the weather and some of the places, we decided that the film will be shot in the ruins of the fort. Tai Chi is an art that goes back many years so we hope that fits perfectly with the old architecture.“

    Szymon Sierakowski – 2digif[/quote]

    The Art of Tai Chi Sailing from 2digif on Vimeo.

    Piotr Walczak is a practitioner of the Chen style of Tai Chi Chuan. He started his training in 2009 under the guidance of Peter Ziemba in the Tai Chi School in Poznan, Poland. He had trained the Saber and the Halbred (Kwan Dao) when learning the Chen style, and still enjoys practicing both to this day. Piotr has also studied with Howard Choy and Sam Chin at seminars held in Poznan. Piotr Walczak

    Piotr talks a bit about the art of Tai Chi Chuan.

    [quote]“Looking for Tai Chi as a system of internal development, we see that it contains a lot of procedures in the field of martial arts, each of which refers to the routine collection of movements. The movements of Tai Chi have been developed based on the assumptions of the ancient Chinese medical knowledge for the human body. Fighting Techniques – Applications of weapons, such as the bill are consistent with the bio-mechanical principles of physical exercises, combining “action and omission”, “balance of Yin and Yang”, “complement brute force and gentleness” and “inclusion strength of spirit to making a move. ”

    With them it was born the theory of “Liu He” ie “Six Harmonies”.
    These are:
    1 Harmony of the hands and feet,
    2 Harmony elbows and knees,
    3 Harmony shoulders and pelvis,
    4 The harmony of heart and mind,
    5 The harmony of the mind and Qi,
    6 Harmony Qi energy and life.

    According to ancient Chinese philosophy of “Tian Ren He Yi”, ie “unity of man and the universe”, reasonable and economic movements are most compatible with the natural structure of the human body. Forms of Tai Chi are the essence of this assumption….“

    Piotr Walczak[/quote]

    2digif is more than a company to its founders. It was created by Szymon Sierakowski and his good friend Wojciech Żelasko. They wanted to realize their own passion and spend time outside of work in a productive manner, To be able to show through film, the world and the people and leave something behind. You can visit them at their Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/2digif

    The music featured in this video is the song “Sail” by Awolnation. You can download it following the link below.

  • Chen Village Documentary Trailer

    Chen Village Documentary Trailer

    A wonderful documentary by Empty Mind Films on the Chen Village that is famous for being the birth place of Chen Family Style Tai Chi Chuan. The documentary looks at life in the village, the training of Chen Tai Chi that goes on in the village, and about Chen Family Tai Chi Chuan itself. You hear of the experiences of foreigners who have traveled to China to live and train Tai Chi at the Chen Village.

    The Documentary features Chen Tai Chi masters such as Chen Xiaowang, his brother Chen Xiaoxing who is the head of the Chen Village Tai Chi school, Chen Ziqiang who is the son of Chen Xiaoxing, as well as Chen Bing who is a nephew of Chen Xiaowang and Chen Xiaoxing.

    Watch this wonderful trailer of the documentary “Chen Village”

    Now you can own this wonderful documentary about the famous Chen Village, and learn about the life, the training and the people of this unique village that is the birthplace of Chen Family Tai Chi Chuan.
    Click on the image of the DVD below to see more!

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